Shedding mechanism for circular looms



- April 19, 1938. Y J. W.IBENNETT ET AL. 2,114,585

SHEDDING MECHANISM FOR CIRCULAR LOOMS 1 Filed Oct. 28, 1936 sSheets-Sheetl A TTOKNEYS April 1938. J. w. BENNETT El AL. 2,114,585

SHEDDING MECHANISM FOR CIRCULAR LOOMS Filed 001;. 28, 1936 3Sheets-Sheet 2 NVENTORS \66 W-PQQL April 19, 1938.

J. W. BENNETT ET AL SHEDDING MECHANISM FOR CIRCULAR LOOMS 3 Sheets-Sheet3 Filed 001;. 28. 1936 75 INVENTORS II- W. BENNETT F c H ALE W. PDUL.j/%/M ATTORNEYS Patented Apr. 19, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICESHEDDING MECHANISM FOR CIRCULAR LOOMS Application October 28, 1936,Serial No. 107,926 In Great Britain November 9, 1935 9 Claims.

This invention relates to circular looms, and in particular to sheddingmechanism therefor.

The control of the warp threads for shedding purposes in a circular loomweaving fabrics with closely spaced warps presents considerabledifficulty for several reasons. In the first place, in order to weave afabric of commercial width and yet keep the over-all dimensions of theloom down to a convenient size, it is advisable to guide the warps sothat they form a cylinder passing smoothly into the tube of fabric wovenon the loom. In this way, the radial dimensions of the loom can be madenot unduly greater than the radius of the fabric tube, and the warps,shedding mechanism and shuttles are easy of access. However, with thewarps thus disposed, the shedding movement must take place in a radialdirection, which gives rise to difficulty in bringing aboutcorresponding movement of the healds or other shedding elements directlycontrolling the warps.

Secondly, if the shedding mechanism involves any heald movement having asubstantial divergence from the radial, the free movements of the healdsmay be impaired and the healds, moreover, may rub excessively across thewarps passing between them. Further, the close spacing resulting fromthe large number of healds necessary to give a warp of high densitymakes it extremely difficult to select particular healds from theremainder to bring about any desired shedding, except for the productionof fabrics with simple weaves.

The present invention provides a shedding mechanism in which thesedifficulties are avoided,

' and one which is suitable for varied types of patterning ranging fromthe fairly simple shedding involved in such fabrics as taffetas, twillsand satins to pattern effects of considerable complexity.

The shedding mechanism according to the invention, which is particularlywell adapted for use with a loom having a vertical axis and asubstantially cylindrical disposition of its warps, comprises aplurality of banks of light healds H adapted to engage the Warp threads,means to deflect the warp threads to one side of the normal line thatthey follow in approaching a shuttle from the warp supply, stop means inassociation with the banks of healds, and means to bring any selectedbank of healds and stop means into line with each other to allow thehealds not encountered by stop means to follow the deflection imposed bythe deflecting means, thus bringing about a separation between the warpthreads engaged by such healds and the warp threads en.-

gaged by the healds that have encountered the stop means. The warpthreads are thus separated into two sheets to form a shed into which theshuttle can enter during the relative circular motion between shuttleand warps with respect to the axis of the loom.

In a loom in which the warps and the healds have no circumferentialmovement, the shuttles being rotated round the axis of the loom, thewarp thread deflecting means rotate round the loom axis at the same rateas the shuttles. The means for bringing the healds and the stop meansinto" line with each other likewise rotate at the same rate as theshuttles. It is important, however, that there should be no relativecircular movement between the stop means and the healds, and, inconsequence, no sliding of the healds along the surface of the stopmeans. In this way, the stop means do not tend to bend or deform thehealds, and these latter may therefore be made very light, in fact onlyjust stiff enough to prevent themselves from bending when impelledagainst the stop means under the relatively light force exerted by thewarp threads.

Arising from this is another important feature of the invention, viz.that the healds of each bank instead of being separated from each otherso as to cause them to partake of the desired radial movement can remainsubstantially unconfined in a circumferential direction. Thus, thehealds lie close packed against each other free from themovement-restricting friction that arises where the healds are caused topass between spacing pieces or through holes in perforated plates. Atthe same time, a much greater heald-density may be employed than whenthe healds are spaced apart to pass through separate slots or holes.With the healds free in a circumferential direction, means may beprovided to prevent their crossing each other, as will appear from themore detailed description following hereafter.

Various methods may be adopted for bringing the stop or stops intoposition against appropriate banks of healds at different shuttles.Thus, the stops may be pivoted in character and engaged by suitable camsin advance of the warp deflection at each shuttle, or the stop or stopsmay slide into position.

The cams or like members for positioning the stops operate in connectionwith each shuttle, and may be arranged always to produce the sameshedding motion of the warps at any one shuttle, or the cams or the likemay themselves be controlled so as to vary the shedding.

The further controlling means may be operated by one or more devicesdisposed round the loom periphery to give a very varied number ofpatterns. This number of patterns may depend not only upon the number,position, and actuation of the steps, but upon the way in which thewarps are entered in various banks.

The invention will now be described in greater detail with reference tothe accompanying drawings in connection with a loom in which the warpcylinder is disposed about a vertical axis, and in which the shuttlesrotate about the loom axis while the warps remain stationary in acircumferential direction.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic front elevation of the loom, partly in section;

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic plan view of a number of shuttles and theirassociated shedding mechanism;

Fig. 3 is a vertical section of a detail of Fig. 1 on a larger scale,taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 4 is a front elevation corresponding to Fig. 3, partly in section;

Fig. 5 is a part-sectional plan view of part of Figs. 3 and 4;

Figs. 6 and 7 show diagrammatically-in partsectional elevation and planrespectively the application of additional patterning means to themechanism shown in Figs. 1-5;

Figs. 8-11 are diagrammatic views of an alternative form ofheald-selecting mechanism, also provided with additional patterningmechanism,

Fig. 8 being a part-sectional elevation;

Fig. 9, a plan view of part of Fig. 8;

Fig. 10, a view taken on the line iii-10 of Fig. 8; and

Fig. 11 aview taken on the line i Ill of Fig. 8.

Warp threads i are led from beams 2 over rollers 3 and downwards to aspacing comb 4 and lease rods 5, below which they pass in substantiallycylindrical form to the shedding mechanism 6 mounted above the shuttles'1.

Weft is inserted from each shuttle 1 between the shedded Warp threads Iinto the fell of the fabric, which lies substantially at the level ofthe upper edge of the fabric-supporting ring 8. The fabric 9 proceedsdownwards over the surface of the ring 8 and the member lfi constitutingan extension of the ring 8, and passes in doubled form round a roller llof a take-up device disposed at the bottom of the loom.

The shuttles l are held in position within the shedded warp threads bymeans of pairs of vane wheels i2 penetrating the outermost sheet of warpthreads to make contact with the shuttle body, the Wheels l2 beingmounted on rotatable shafts 43 mounted in columns M carried by arotatable ring l5. As the ring I5 is driven round the loom (by means notshown), the engagement of the vane wheels l2 with the bodies of theshuttles 7 causes the shuttles to be propelled round the loom at thesame rate. Atthe same time the rotation of the vane wheel shafts l3enables the threads of the outer sheet of warp threads to be penetratedby the vanes of the wheels l2, so enabling the warp threads to pass thevane wheels notwithstanding the driving contact between the vane wheelsand the shuttles. On the inside of each shuttle remote from the vanewheels l2 a roller i6 is supported by a rubber-covered circular race ll,between which and the roller iii the innermost sheet of warp threads isfree to pass.

The shedding mechanism 6 comprises two main members, the one supportingthe healds so that they do not partake of the rotation of the shuttlesabout the loom axis, and the other rotating with the shuttles to bringabout the shedding motion of the healds in advance of each shuttle.

Referring to Fig. 3, brackets it carried by stationary columns iiiinside the warp cylinder support an annular reed 26 and a series ofradial supporting plates 2i. Carried by the plates 2! are two sets ofwire rings 22, 23 mounted respectively outside and inside the positionoccupied by the Warp threads 5, six pairs of rings 22, 23 beingprovided. Resting on the rings 22, 23 are six banks of flat metal healds2% forked at their inner ends 25 so as to embrace the rings 23, andnormally projecting at their outer ends 26 slightly beyond the outeredges of the plates 2|. The forked construction of the healds 24 enablesthe healds to rest edge-uppermost on the rings 22, 23, thus enabling alarge number of healds to be mounted close together on each pair ofrings, as shown in Fig. 3; the healds are also prevented from crossingeach other. At intervals between the plates 2i the rings 22, 23 passthrough spacing members T5 to maintain the spacing of the rings.

Annular rings 28, 29, to which the outer ends of the plates 2! areconnected, are connected at intervals round the loom by box-likebrackets 30 in which are pivoted six series of toggle mechanisms servingto effect heald selection. On the outermost pivots 3i are carried themembers 32 extending outside the brackets 33 and extending inwardly inthe form of arms 33 connected by a pin 34. On the innermost series ofpivots 35 are carried members 36 having an outer arm 3'! passing betweenthe arms of the members 32, and slotted at 38 to embrace the pin 34. Arecess 39 in the arm 37 accommodates a spring 40 bearing against the pin35% and the pivot 35.

On one side M of each bracket Share mounted stops 42 adapted to beengaged by the upper sides of the arms 33 of the members 32 and on theother side 43 of the brackets 35 are similar stops 44 adapted to engagethe under sides of the arms 33. When, therefore, any of the members 32projecting beyond the bracket 36 is depressed, the spring 46 urges itsarms 33 upwards until the stop 42 is encountered. The upward movement ofthe arm 33 results in a corresponding downward movement of the part ofthe member 36 extending inwardly beyond the pivot 35. Similarly, whenthe member 32 is raised, the inwardly-projecting part of the member 36is raised, the movement being limited by the stop Q4.

The projecting portion of each member 36 is widened into a biade l5notched along the length of its edge as shown at it. When the blade 45is depressed it lies below the level of the corresponding bank of healds2d. When it is raised the notch 56 lies opposite the outer ends of thehealds, which are slightly inclined, as shown at 41, to correspond withthe inclination of the upper side of the notch 46.

Carried by columns =38 from the ring [5 by which the shuttles l arecarried and propelled round the loom is a ring 39. Supported atcircumferential distances corresponding to the space occupied by asingle shuttle are brackets 50 embracing the annular rings 28, 25 andconnected at their upper ends by an annular ring 5%. Projecting inwardlyfrom the ring 5| are brackets 52 carrying freely rotatable rollers 53 topress against rollers 54 freely rotatable on brackets 55. One such pairof rollers '53, 54 is shown in Fig. 2, and it is to be understood thatsimilar pairs, say four in number, are disposed at regular intervalsround the loom.

The brackets 55 are carried by a ring 56 supported by rollers 51 carriedby the upper brackets l8 and guided by rollers 58 on the brackets l8.Therefore, during the rotation of the ring 49 the rollers 53 by theirpressure on the rollers 54 cause the ring 56 to rotate at the same rateabout the axis of the loom. In order to prevent the ring 56 over-runningthe ring 49 a check roller 59 is carried by the ring 5| slightly inadvance of each of the rollers 54 with a slight clearance between itsperiphery and that of the roller 54.

In addition to providing for the driving of the ring 56 the rollers 54act as shedding rollers. Between the rollers 54, the ring 56 carriesfreely rotatable shedding rollers 66, there being either a roller 54 ora roller 6|] disposed slightly in advance of each of the shuttles 1. Thediameter of the rollers 54, 60 is such that they deflect the warpthreads I outwardly beyond the vertical line joining the eyes 6| of thehealds 24 when these latter are in their innermost positions. The ring5! may also support freely rotatable rollers 62 near the rear ends ofthe shuttles l, the rollers projecting inwards beyond thesaid verticalline, for a purpose to be explained later.

The brackets 56 are provided with slots 63 providing for the adjustablemounting of two sets of blade cams 64 adapted to engage the members 32.The members 32 are, as shown in 4, approximately diamond-shapedinsection, so as to present inclined surfaces to the cams 64. One of theslots 63 supports downwardly bent cam blades serving to deflectdownwardly any of the members 32 that they meet. The cam blades mountedin the other slots 63 are bent upwardly for an upward deflection of themembers 32.

The operation of the shedding mechanism is as follows:

The ring 49 rotates round the loom at the same speed as the shuttle I,and thus carries with it the brackets 50 to bring the cams 64 carried bythe bracket into engagement with the members 32 of each of the brackets36 in turn. At the same time the ring 56 carries the rollers 54, 66round the loom at the same speed as the shuttles. The outward deflectionof the warp threads I by the rollers 54, 66 in advance of each shuttlecauses the threads to urge the healds 24 outwardly across theirsupporting rings 22, 23.

If the member 32 associated with any particu lar bank of healdsis in itsdownward position, i. e. with one arm 33 resting against the upper stop42, the blade 45 is also in its downward position and the outer ends ofthe healds 24 of that particular bank are free to pass above the blade45, as is the case with banks 1 and 4 (counting from the top) in Fig. 3.If, however, a member 32 has been deflected upwardly by the upwardlybentcam blade carried in the slot 63 the associated blade 45 is likewisedeflected upwardly, and the first slight outward movement of thecorresponding bank of healds under the urge of the warp threads bringsthe inclined outer ends of the healds into engagement with the notch 46along the edge of the blade 45. In this way, that section of theparticular bank of healds extending over the length of the blade 45 isprevented fromv partaking of more than the slightest outward movement,as is the case with banks 2, 3, 5, and 6 in Fig. 3.

Since the individual warp threads are only capable of exerting a slighturging force on the eyes of healds that have been stopped by the blades45 to remain substantially in their normal vertical line so that belowthe eyes SE of the undeflected healds the warp threads remain in thisline. On the other hand where healds of one or more banks have not beenstopped by the blades 45, the heald eyes 6| move outwardly with thehealds and below these heald eyes the corresponding threads aredeflected from the normal vertical line. I

There is, thus, effected a selection of the warp threads into sheets,undeflected threads forming the inner sheet and deflected ones the outersheet. This deflection is completed by the wheels 54, 66 some littledistance in. advance of the nose of any particular shuttle, and ismaintained until the nose can pass between the two sheets of warpthreads. Thereafter the inner sheet passes over the inner surface of theshuttle I and the outer sheet over the outer surface of the shuttleuntil the two sheets of threads are able to join into a single sheet atthe rear of the shuttle. The tension of the threads serves. to retractdeflected healds after the corresponding threads have reached the rearof a shuttle. The partition of the warp threads at the level of theshuttles and their subsequent joining up will be evident from Fig. 2.

The threads are then ready for a further selection in advance of thenose of the succeeding shuttle, this further selection being determinedby the particular disposition of the cams 64 in the correspondingbracket 50, i. e. if the healds of a particular bank that have beenstopped by a blade 45 in advance of one shuttle are to be free to movein advance of the next shuttle the corresponding member 32 is engaged bya downwardly bent cam 64 in the succeeding bracket 56. If, on the otherhand, at two shuttles in succession the healds of a particular bank areto remain undeflected, or-to be deflected as the case may be, there isno necessity for any cam to be used for that bank at the second shuttle,since the toggle spring 40 retains the blade 45 in the desired positionfor the succeeding shuttle.

It will be observed from Fig. 4 that there are three of the blades 45covering the circumferential distance allotted to a single shuttle, andthat the bracket 50 is placed sufliciently in advance of the sheddingwheel 54 (or 60) to ensure that any blade 45 is brought by its cam 64into the desired heald-stopping or heald-freeing position before thehealds thus to be stopped or freed have been reached by the wheel 54 (or6B) Selection of the healds 24 thus proceeds by the relatively smallsections covered by successive blades 45. Actually, the selection beginswhile the Warp threads controlled by the healds are still engaged by aprevious shuttle, this being possible by reason of the freedom of theouter ends 26 of the healds to be lifted above the rings 22 when anyblade 45 over which they happen to be lying is lifted by a cam 64. Then,when all the healds 24 return to their normal position as the rear endof the preceding shuttle is reached, the lifted ends 26 of the raisedhealds slide clear of the lifted blade 45 and drop again on to the ring22, so that on their next outward urge under the action of the wheel 54(or 60) they encounter the notch 46 of that blade and are stopped.

As many selections as there are shuttles round All the selections may bedifierent or similar selections may be made at two or more brackets,especially where weaves of comparatively simple character are desired.

The rollers 62 may be used to ensure the return of the healds 24 tonormal position by inwardly deflecting the outer sheet of warp threadsbefore they reach the rear of the shuttle so that when each warp passesover the rear of the shuttle the extra tension caused by its deflectionmakes it snap suddenly inwards, thus overcoming any tendency for itsheald to stick on the rings 22, 23.

It will be observed from Fig. 4 that the warp threads I are somewhatinclined to the vertical when viewed in elevation. This disposition ofthe warp threads facilitates their passage through the slots in the vanewheels l2. The radial supporting plates 2| and the spacing members 21are correspondingly inclined.

In order to prevent healds 24 from passing into the space between theends of adjacent blades 45, a wire 66 slightly thicker than the width ofthis space is carried between the plates 28, 29.

Rollers 61 carried by the ring 49 assist in supporting the weight of themechanism carried above the ring 29 and also oppose the downward thrustof the cams 64 on the members 32.

Referring to Figs. 6 and '7, the bracket 50 is extended outwards toprovide bearings 18 for a 6-sided drum ll, each side of which has pairsof slots 63 to receive cams 64. A 6-toothecl starwheel 12 is secured tothe drum ll and, as the ring 49 carrying the brackets 50 rotates, isbrought into engagement with teeth 13 projecting from the ring 29. Thesides of the drum H are thus brought in turn alongside the brackets 30,so that the members 32 projecting from the brackets 30 are selectivelyoperated in accordance with the arrangement of the cams 64 on the sideof the drum. H for the time being in operation. A ball catch 14 holdsthe drum "H in each of its six positions.

Figs. 8 to 11 show sliding means for effecting selection between thebanks of healds 24, together with additional patterning means forcontrolling the sliding selector member. The healds 24 are supported byand free to slide between two series of rings 22, 23 mounted in radialplates l5, '86 connected by the reed 26. The plates 15 extend below thelevel of the reed 20, as shown in Fig. 8, and are formed near theirouter edges with vertical slots 11. A frame E8 is positioned with itsnarrow vertical members 79 resting in the slots 11 so as to be capableof a vertical movement that carries its horizontal upper bar 88 from thelevel of the uppermost bank of healds 24 to that of the lowermost bank.The member 86 and the lower horizontal member 88 of the frame 18 aremade of U-section for stifiening purposes.

At the centre of the member 88 a roller 82 projects outwardly into thepath of a cam member carried by a ring 83 supported by columns 84 so asto be carried round the loom at the same rate as the shuttles. The cammember consists of two horns 85, 86 converging, as shown in Fig. 10, toa point at which they are bent to connect with their supporting lever81.

The lever 87 is pivoted at 88 to a bracket 89 carried by the ring 83.One such pair of horns 85, 86 is provided in connection with eachshuttle l, and in accordance with their vertical positioning withrespect to the roller 82 one or other of the horns raises or lowers theframe 18 to the position desired for that particular shuttle. The

member of the frame can thus be brought into line with the healds of anydesired bank so as to stop those healds from partaking of the outboardmovement that the shedding wheel 54 or 60 tends to impose on them bydeflecting the warp threads I. Therefore, the member 80 of the frame 18in association with any particular shuttle effects a selection among thebank of healds to form a shed into which that shuttle can enter. Bysuitable selection of the healds at all the shuttles disposed round theloom, different sheds can be formed for the difierent shuttles inaccordance with the pattern desired.

The pivotal mounting of the lever 8! enables the vertical positioning ofthe horns 85, 86 to be varied so that not only can different sheds beformed for the difierent shuttles, but at any particular shuttle theshed can be changed as desired to extend the patterning scope. A roller90 projecting from the end of a lever 81 is adapted to be engaged byplate cams 9i carried by the links 92 of an endless pattern chainrunning round rollers 93 mounted on a suitable part of the loom frameand driven through gearing 94 from any suitable part of the loom-drivingmechanism. The cams 9| have inclined edges, as shown in Fig. 11, so thatas they are brought into the path of the roller 9|] as the latterrotates round the loom, the roller is raised or lowered according as itmeets with the upper edge or lower edge of the cams 9! presented by themovement of the pattern chain. The horns 85, 86 are correspondinglymoved to bring the member 88 into the desired position. The lever 81 isheld in selected position by a ball or like catch 95.

With the heald selecting mechanism according to the invention, aconsiderable variety of patterns can be woven. Thus, using the fixedcams 64 of Figs. 3 and 4, a selection can be made between any desiredcombinations of the several banks of healds mounted on the rings 22, 23.This possibility of selecting the banks of healds, together with thepossibility of entering the warp threads I in a variety of ways in theseveral banks, enables a large variety of patterns to be woven in arepeat that recurs at each weaving revolution. Similarly with the healdselector mechanism shown in Fig. 8, considerable complexity of patternscan be woven, quite apart from the possibility of varying the selectiveaction of the horns 85, 86. Thus, assuming that this mechanism is usedin a 10-shuttle loom with one-fifth of the warp threads entered in eachof the five heald banks, the same selection by the member 88 of a singlebank of healds at each shuttle in the order 1, 3, 5, 4, 2, 1, 3, 5, 4, 2provides for weaving S-shaft satin. If, however, the dobby chain is usedto vary the position of the horns, 85, 86 larger patterns, e. g.patterns extending over more than 5 or 10 picks can be woven. Patterningpossibilities can likewise be extended by suitably entering the warpthreads in the healds 24, as well as by stopping more than one bank ofhealds at any particular shuttle, e. g. by having the member 80 wideenough to stop two adjacent banks simultaneously.

Similarly, with the additional patterning mechnism of Figs. 6 and 7 theextent of the pattern can be increased beyond the number of picks laidin each weaving revolution, and in the example shown, in which the drumH has six sides, six different selections of the heald banks can be madeat each shuttle.

The range of selection can be made greater if more than six arrangementsof the cams 64 are provided for each shuttle.

Having described our invention What we desire to secure by LettersPatent is:-

1. Shedding mechanism for a circular loom, comprising a plurality ofbanks of light healdsadapted to engage the warp threads, means todeflect the warp threads to one side of the normal line that they followin approaching the shuttle from the warp supply, stop means inassociation with the banks of healds, said stop means being mounted sothat there is no relative circular movement between them and the healds,and selecting means operating Without direct contact with the healds tobring any selected bank of healds and its stop means into line with eachother, thereby allowing the healds not encountered by stop means tofollow the deflection imposed by the deflecting means, thus bringingabout a separation between the warp threads engaged by such healds andthe warp threads engaged by the healds that have encountered stop means.

2. Shedding mechanism for a circular loom in which the shuttles rotateabout the loom axis while the warps remain stationary in acircumferential direction, said mechanism comprising a plurality ofbanks of light healds adapted to engage the stationary warp threads,means rotatable at the same rate as the shuttles and adapted to deflectthe warp threads to one side of the normal line that they follow inapproaching a shuttle from the warp supply, selecting means rotatable atthe same rate as the shuttles, and movable stop means in associationwith the banks of healds and mounted between the healds and theselecting means with no relative circular movement between themselvesand the healds, the selecting means operating to bring any selected bankof healds and its stop means into line with each other to allow thehealds not encountered by stop means to follow the deflection imposed bythe deflecting means, thus bringing about a separation between the warpthreads engaged by such healds and the warp threads engaged by thehealds that have encountered the stop means.

3. Shedding mechanism for a circular loom comprising a plurality ofbanks of light healds adapted to engage the warp threads, means todeflect the warp threads to one side of the normal line that they followin approaching a shuttle rom the warp supply, pivoted stop means inassociation with the banks of healds, and means to rock any selectedstop means about its pivot into line with the corresponding bank ofhealds so as to prevent such healds from following the deflectionimposed by the deflecting means, thus bringing about a separationbetween the warp threads engaged by such healds and the warp threadsengaged by the healds that have not encountered the stop means.

4. Shedding mechanism for a circular loom comprising a plurality ofbanks of light healds adapted to engage the Warp threads, means todeflect the warp threads to one side of the normal line that they followin approaching a shuttle from the warp supply, pivoted stop means inassociation with the banks of healds, togglemechanisms connected to thestop means, and means to operate the toggle-mechanisms so as to rock anyselected stop means and hold it in or out of line with. thecorresponding bank of healds so as to prevent healds encountered by stopmeans from following the deflection imposed by the deflecting means,thus bringing about a separation between the warp threads engaged bysuch healds and the warp threads engaged by the healds that have notencountered the stop deflect the warp threads to one side of the nor.

mal line that they follow in approaching a shuttle from the warp supply,slidable stop means in association with the banks of healds, and meansto slide any selected stop means into line with the corresponding bankof healds so as to prevent such healds from following the deflectionimposed by the deflecting means, thus bringing about a separationbetween the warp threads engaged by such healds and the warp threadsengaged by the healds that have not encountered the stop means.

6. Shedding mechanism for a circular loom comprising a plurality ofbanks of light healds adapted to engage the warp threads, means todeflect the warp threads to one side of the normal line that they followin approaching a shuttle from the warp supply, stop means in associationwith the banks of healds, cam mountings, means for adjustably fixingcams in each mounting in accordance with the selection of healds desiredat such mounting, and means to bring the stop means into contact withthe cams so that each mounting causes its cams to bring the stop meansinto line with any selected bank of healds to allow the healds notencountered by stop means to follow the deflection imposed by the defleeting means, thus bringing about a separation between the warpthreads engaged by such healds and the warp threads engaged by thehealds that have encountered the stop means.

7. Shedding mechanism for a circular loom comprising a plurality ofbanks of light healds adapted to engage the warp threads, means todefleet the warp threads to one side of the normal line that they followin approaching a shuttle from the warp supply, stop means in associationwith the banks of healds, movable cams adapted to position the stopmeans and means for selectively moving the cams into a position in whichthey engage the stop means to bring the stop means thus engaged intoline with the corresponding healds, thus allowing the healds notencountered by stop means to follow the deflection imposed by thedeflecting means, and bringing about a separation between the warpthreads engaged by such healds and the warp threads engaged by thehealds that have encountered the stop means.

8. Shedding mechanism for a circular loom comprising a plurality ofbanks of light healds adapted to engage the warp threads, two ringsadapted to support the healds close-packed against each other in eachbank, means to deflect the warp threads to one side of the normal linethat they follow in approaching a shuttle from the warp supply, stopmeans in association with the banks of healds, said stop means beingmounted so that there is no relative circular movement between them andthe healds, and selecting means operating without direct contact withthe healds to bring any selected bank of healds and its stop means intoline with each other to allow the healds not encountered by stop meansto follow the deflection imposed by the deflecting means, thus bringingabout a separation between the warp threads engaged by such healds andthe Warp threads engaged by the healds that have encountered the stopmeans.

9. Shedding mechanism for a circular loom comprising a plurality ofbanks of light healds adapted to engage the warp threads, two ringsadapted to support the healds close-packed against each other in eachbank, the healds being flat and forked to embrace one of the rings so asto ensure that the healds rest edgewise on the rings, means to deflectthe warp threads to one side of the normal line that they follow inapproaching a shuttle from the warp supply, stop

